GMA orders release of P1 billion as first step in ‘paying nation’s debt’ to WW2 vets

MT. SAMAT, Bataan — For the lives, dreams and youth they sacrificed to defend the country and restore its freedom, Filipino World War II veterans will finally get material thanks from a nation that has been grateful for their valor for 64 years.

President Arroyo pledged yesterday the release of P1 billion as the first step in "paying our nation’s debts" to war veterans and their dependents — the biggest amount allocated to help settle government arrears to veterans in recent history.

In her speech at the 64th commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) at the Dambana ng Kagitingan here, the President said the administration’s fiscal reform measures allowed the government to set aside money for the purpose as she told veterans of World War II and their dependents that she is "doing everything I can to address your needs."

"Our fiscal reforms enable us now to start paying our nation’s debts to our veterans and the orphans of our heroes who now rest in peace. Not only in words, not only in memorial ceremonies like today but also in concrete material terms," Mrs. Arroyo said.

"Thus, to begin paying the arrears in the old-age pension, death pension, disability pension and educational benefits of our veterans, thanks to our fiscal reforms, we are now in a position to release P1 billion to start paying our debts," she said.

The President said the veterans on World War II "sacrificed their lives, their youth, and their dreams so that we, the next generation, can enjoy freedom and democracy."

The allocation is earmarked for the educational, pension, death and disability of some 150,000 veterans of World War II and the Korean War.

In her short message at the Altar of Valor that stands atop the historic and windswept Mt. Samat, Mrs. Arroyo extolled before the few surviving veterans, their relatives, visitors and local officials the bravery of the protagonists of the war by saying that "whatever side they were on, they passed the test of their time and with full honor."

She added that "in our time we no longer fight for freedom from invaders rather freedom against poverty, hunger, crime, corruption, communism, terrorism, religious, ethnic misunderstanding and warfare."

Executive Secretary Eduardo Ermita, also a veteran of the Pacific War, said the P1-billion allocation was the biggest in history.

"I’m happy that the issue of arrears is being addressed. I think even former President (Fidel) Ramos would also be happy along with other veterans," Ermita said. Ramos is also a veteran.

He said the total arrears could reach as much as P15 billion, but officials from the Department of Budget and Management said the figure could breach that threshold.

The President lauded the Filipinos’ "sense of sacrifice" as the key factor in the government’s new-found ability to address its various projects and programs, notably in the area of poverty alleviation and infrastructure development.

Some 130 war veterans from Bataan and the neighboring provinces of Central Luzon also received their medals honoring their valor from local officials led by Bataan Vice Gov. Benjamin Alonzo at the Bulwagan ng Bayan here.

The veterans, many of whom are in their 80s and who rely on wheelchairs, canes and the physical support of their kin for mobility, thanked Bataan’s local officials by tearfully hugging the officials, their hands trembling with age.

The veterans were treated to a parade of 12 colorful, handcrafted floats designed to realistically depict pivotal scenes from the last Great War’s battles in the Bataan peninsula. The floats were designed in each of the province’s 11 municipalities.

According to Bataan Gov. Enrique Garcia, Bataan and its grueling Death March have "symbolized the Filipino passion for freedom and democratic ideals imbued in us by our forebears." He urged Filipinos "to aspire for greatness with the current move to reform the government toward a government that is more realistic and sensitive to the people’s aspirations.

The President said the implementation of reforms in the expanded value added tax (EVAT) law, the Lateral Attrition Law and other revenue laws has helped raise the revenues needed to carry out the government’s programs and projects.

Mrs. Arroyo also underscored the need to amend the 1987 Constitution as envisioned under Phase 2 of her reform programs. Phase 2 calls for political reforms, while Phase 1 covered fiscal and economic reforms.

"The meaningful social programs and job creating infrastructure that now, at last, we can carry out, because we have made fiscal reforms and the political will to make our system more attuned and more responsive in keeping up to date with the demands of the 21st century," Mrs. Arroyo said.

Garcia said unity among the citizenry is necessary to attain progress and political reform in the government.

As this unfolded, outspoken Bataan Rep. Antonino Roman Jr. assailed the United States government for failing to live up to its standing obligation to Filipino war veterans who fought and died alongside American soldiers in the Philippines.

Roman, a native of Orani town, said that for over six decades, the American government failed to enact laws granting equal benefits and pay to Filipino war veterans leaving the promise of the late US President Franklin Delano Roosevelt unfulfilled.

Roman prayed that the American sense of justice be made to focus on Filipino war veterans who have yet to obtain the benefits promised to them by Roosevelt.

His criticism also encompassed the Philippine government’s failure to honor its obligation to Filipino war veterans until yesterday: "If our own government has failed to come to the rescue of our poor veterans, what more of the long expected assistance from the US government?" — With Raffy Viray